Switch-operating device



A. BLAKE.

SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-I6 1 920. I 1,383,903,Patented July 5, 1921...

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INVENTOR A'FI'ORNEY A BLAKE. SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILE-D AUG. 16, 1920.

1,383,903. Patented July 5, 1921.-

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

ARCHIE BLAKE, on NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, Assrenon or ONE-TH RD To Mas.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 16, 1920. Serial No. 403,710. I

T 0- all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARCHIE BLAKE, a citizenof the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleansand State of Louisiana, have invented. new and useful Improvements inSwitch-Operating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to improvements in railwayconstructions, and is in the nature of an appliance for switch operatingmechanism.

The primary object is the production of means in connection with theordinary switch throwing mechanism, whereby the switch points will beeffectively held in hugging relation with respect to the rails, sothatliabilities to accidents which frequently occur by the pointsleaving the rails will be effectively obviated.

A further object is the provision of a safety appliance for use inconnection with the throwing mechanism of switch points, which can beeasily installed and which will be automatic in action.

A still further object is the production of mechanism including springinfluenced means that act directly on the bridle bar of the switchpoints to effect either a pushing or pulling action on the bridle bar,in accordance with the switch points that are brought against the railsto insure the retention of said points against said rails.

A still further object is the production of mechanism of this characterwhich shall be of a comparatively simple construction, cheaplymanufactured, easily installed, not liable to breakage ordisassociation, and which will act automatically in a thoroughlyefficient manner.

The foregoing, and other objects which will appear as the nature of theinvention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction,combination and operative arrangement of parts, such'as is disclosed bythe drawings.-

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a railway systemillustrating the application of the improvement between the switch standand bridle bar for the switch points.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the top member of the casing of theimprovement removed.

Fig. 3 is a similar view but showing the points thrown to the oppositeposition from that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

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Fig. 4 is a similar view, on an'enlar'ged 1g. 1. r Fig. 5 is aperspective View of the bottom member of the casing.

Fig. 6 is a view of the throw elements associated therewith.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view approximately on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings the rails for a main line of a railway systemareindicated by the numeral 1 and those of a siding by the numeral 2.Between the main and siding rails are the usual switch rails 3 whichhavetheir points scale, approximately on the line k4 of connected, in theusual manner, by the bridle bar 45.

To one side of the main track is the switch stand 5 provided with theusual vertically disposed shaft operated by the usual angle extension orarm" having the pivoted lever 6 rod and nit that is designed to engagein either of the-f j spaced notches 7 on-the extending plateonf the topof the stand. The shaft 8, on its lower end is provided with the usualoffset finger 9, which, in the present instance, is pivotally connectedto the bifurcated end of the operating rod 10 that constitutes one ofthe elements of the improvement.

The operating rod 10, for the major porv tion of its length is housed'ina casing. The I casing constitutes alower section .11 and an uppersection 12 that is bolted or otherwise sion 13, the inner portion of thesaid extension being formed with a round depression 1% secured on thelower section. The lower section 11 has at its outer end a conicalextenthat registers with the bore of the sections,

and the extreme endof the extension 13 is bifurcated, as at 15,receiving therein the end of the bridle bar to which it is pivotallyconnected.

The bore of the section's casing is centrally enlarged providingshoulders 16 and 17 at the ends thereof. The depression is of a materiallength, and the inner shoulder 16 thereof is designed to be contacted bya disklike collar 18 on the reduced inner portion 19 of the operatingrod 10, the sliding of the collar being limited by the contact thereofwith the shoulder provided between the rod proper and the reducedextension thereof. This collar 18 is that constitute the I i contactedby a helical spring 20 that is received on the reduced end of theoperating rod, the said spring contacting with the flanged end 21 of asleeve member 22 that is loose on the reduced end of the rod 10. The rod10 has its end, on which the sleeve is received threaded and has securedthereon a nut 28. The numeral 2d designates a locking element which ispreferably in the nature of a cotter pin that passes transverselythrough the end of the rod 10, and contacts with the nut to hold the nutagainst unscrewing. The flange 21 of the sleeve 22contacts with theshoulder 17 in the cylindrical casing.

The lower section 11 of the casing preterably has its edges providedwith outstand' ing ears 25, and the upper section 12 has its edgesprovided with similar ears which rest on the ears 25. Through these earsare passed the securing elements which are preferably in the nature ofbolts 27 that are engaged by nuts 28.

The section 12 or" the casing, adjacent to the ends thereof hasoil-openings 29 therethrough which are normally closed by caps 30 thatare pivotally supported on the said upper casing section. By thisarrangement it will be noted that a lubricant may be at all times fedinto the casing, so that the rod will freely slide therethrough.

The sleeve and the reduced end of the operating rod 10 are of a sizetobe received in the bore of the casing extension 13. When the switchpoints are thrown to the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the rod10 will have been moved toward the rails, compressing the spring betweenthe collar 18 and the flange 21 of the sleeve 22, the end of the rodhaving been forced into the bore at the closed .end'of the casing, sothat the collar 18 is brought out of contact with the inner shoulder inthe casing. This will effeet the holding of the switch point tightlyagainst the outer rail, to permit of the train traveling over the maintrack on to the siding, when the train travels in the direction of thearrow B in Figs. 1 and 3. How'- ever, should a train travel in thedirection of the arrow A, the spring will yiel when the flanges of thewheels of the rolling stock pass between the main rail and switch point.When the points are thrown to open the main line the spring will becompressed between the collar and the flange 21, the said collar havingbeen forced against the inner shoulder in the casing, so that the innerswitch point is held tightly against the inner main rail. Thus a traintraveling in the direction of the arrow B in Fig. 1 will pass directlyon the main line, but should a train travel from the siding in thedirection of the arrow A the flanges of thecar wheels contacting withthe inner face of the switch pointthat hugs the rail will move the sameaway from the said rail. The spring is of SlllllClSIlt strength toprevent the accidental throwing of the switch, and it is thought thatthe foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawingswill fully set forth the simplicity of the construction and theadvantages thereoi without further detail description;

aving thus described the invention, what I claim is In combination withthe main and siding rails of a railway system, switch pointstherebetween, a bridle bar connecting the switch points, and a switchstand having switch mechanism associated therewith and locking meanstherefor of a two-part casing having a closed end which is pivotallyconnected to the bridle bar, removable means connecting the sections ofthe casing, and

the said casing having a centrally depressed portion therein, anoperating rod slidable through the open end of the casing and pivotallyconnected with the throw mechanism of the switch stand, a collar on thereduced end of the operating rod, a flanged sleeve on the extremereduced end of the operating rod, means for holding the sleeve againstoutward movement on the operating rod,

and a helical spring surrounding the operat ing rod and exerting atension against the flange of the sleeve and the collar, all as and forthe purpose set forth.

in testimony whereof I my signature.

anoint, BLAKE.

